# Understanding the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025

This bill makes changes to Medicare to help seniors and older adults get better treatment for obesity and weight management. Right now, Medicare only covers intensive behavioral therapy for obesity (counseling and lifestyle programs) when it's provided by primary care doctors or certain primary care practitioners. This bill expands who can provide that therapy and also changes medication coverage rules.

The first major change allows Medicare to pay for obesity counseling and behavioral therapy from a wider range of healthcare providers. Instead of just your regular primary care doctor, you could now get this treatment from other doctors, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, registered dietitians, or even approved community-based lifestyle programs. The catch is that these providers still need to work with your primary care doctor—they can't operate completely independently. They have to get a referral from your doctor and coordinate their treatment plans with them. This means more options for getting help, but your regular doctor stays in the loop.

The second major change addresses medication for weight loss. Currently, Medicare Part D (the prescription drug coverage part of Medicare) doesn't cover most obesity medications. This bill changes that by allowing Medicare to cover weight loss medications for people with obesity or for overweight people who have related health problems like diabetes or heart disease. However, this change won't take effect for two years after the bill passes, giving insurance companies time to prepare.

The bill is based on the reality that obesity is a serious and growing problem among older Americans. According to the findings in the bill, about 41 percent of Medicare beneficiaries have obesity, and this costs Medicare roughly $50 billion annually. By expanding access to behavioral therapy and medication coverage, the bill aims to help more seniors manage their weight and reduce the health complications that come with obesity.

Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025

Kelly, Mike

Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025This bill expands Medicare coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity. Specifically, the bill allows coverage for therapy that is provided by (1) a physician who is not a primary care physician; or&nbsp;(2) other health care providers (e.g., physician assistants and nurse practitioners) and approved counseling programs, if provided upon a referral from, and in coordination with, a physician or primary care practitioner. Currently, such therapy is covered only if provided by a primary care practitioner.The bill also allows coverage under Medicare's prescription drug benefit of drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight.